Tillandsia atmospheric is often called exotics among the exotics. Spectacular and catchy, these amazing plants always become an original addition to the interior. It is difficult to call their care extremely simple. Nevertheless, tillandsia are considered one of the most interesting plants that belong to the bromeliad family. They are used with pleasure by many famous designers to create original compositions.
In addition to beautiful foliage and spectacular flowering, representatives of the family are very diverse. The genus Tillandsia combined both potted plants familiar to us, and epiphytes that are very different from them. Experienced gardeners believe that all the efforts to grow these exotic guests will pay off with interest when beautiful Tillandsia decorates your home.
Description: general specifications
Under natural conditions, representatives of the genus Tillandsia, and there are about 700 species, grow in various climatic conditions in Chile, the USA, Mexico and Argentina. The genus was named the great Carl Linnaeus in honor of the Finnish professor of medicine Elias Tillands. Translated from Swedish till lands is translated as "by land", "land". In indoor floriculture, only a few species are grown.
The genus Tillandsia combined two groups of plants that differ significantly from each other:
- Potted (green tillandsia). Plants develop in ordinary soil, produce beautiful rosettes from leaves, which serve as a spectacular backdrop for inflorescences.
- Epiphytic tillandsia, rather rare, slightly capricious plants, which attract not unusual flowering, but unusual foliage. Some varieties have a hard stem, it is completely devoid of. Epiphytes are distinguished by oblong narrow leaves up to 25 centimeters long, and their width barely reaches one centimeter. The color of the leaves varies from light gray to saturated green.
Flat leaves with scales form rosettes of potted tillandsia. Some varieties have long and smooth leaves. From bright pink bracts a large inflorescence is formed, which outwardly resembles an ear. In homes, green Tilandsia live no more than five years.
Popular views
Each species of these plants has its own characteristics. Some attract lovers of indoor floriculture with the ability to change their color before flowering, others are valued for the possibility of development in any climatic zones, others have a delicious aroma. There are varieties resembling tangles of thread, silver beard of an old man, bunches of feathers. Below we list and briefly describe the most common types of tillandsia.
Tillandsia Gardener
The plant forms a large rosette from folded arched leaves, which is a kind of collection for fog and dew. After condensation, moisture flows to the base of the stem along the leaves, where the plant absorbs it.
Bulbose
A very interesting species of tillandsia. A flower is an epiphyte, a plant uses its roots only in order to gain a foothold on something. Bulbose is very beautiful due to the leaves, which during flowering become red-lavender.
Silver
A very spectacular tillandsia, the photo of which you can see below, has very narrow leaves, for which it is sometimes called filiform or hairy. At the base, they expand, bend in a spiral or bend rather bizarrely and randomly. At first glance, not everyone can guess that in front of him is a living plant. The birthplace of this natural miracle is Cuba, Jamaica, the countries of Mexico. And in July, a beautiful scarlet silver tillandsia flower is expelled.
Sitnikovaya
This plant has reed leaves that gather in fancy panicles. An airy, but rather thick and bushy rosette is formed. Leaves can reach a length of 50 cm. During flowering, a beautiful bract appears from the center of the rosette, which is painted in red. On it, small purple flowers bloom in turn.
Violet tillandsia
This species outwardly resembles beautiful corals. Small rosettes, not more than 5 cm in height and width, consist of curved thin leaves. Tillandsia violet-flowered can be fixed on any support and develop in almost any climate. Curved silver leaves are very hard to the touch, have a conical shape. Before flowering in the summer, the internal leaves of the plant turn red. The inflorescences are spike-shaped, painted in blue-violet color, and therefore the red upper leaves seem to be part of this magnificent flower.
Sticking out
This tillandsia (pictured below) is brightly colored. Its gray-green leaves form a dense rosette. Leaf plates up to 20 cm long and 1 cm wide are covered with gray scales. Short and curved peduncles are crowned with spike-shaped dense inflorescences, on which oval bracts of bright pink tones are arranged in a spiral.
Tricolor Tillandsia
Spectacular and compact epiphyte, with gray-green linear leaves that gather in wide sockets. Peduncles are long and straight, in shape resembling an ear with fairly long bracts of three colors: the lower part of the inflorescence is painted in reddish color, the center is yellow, and the top is a delicate salad color with purple flowers.
Louisiana moss
An unusual plant is a thin and long (up to 8 meters) shoots, which in natural conditions hang from rocks and tree branches. A typical representative of atmospheric tillandsia, without roots. The plant receives nutrients from rainwater, which dissolves accumulated dust on the surface of the leaves, the waste products of microorganisms, and plant debris. It is noteworthy that at home Louisiana moss can not be fixed on a support - this tillandsia can, for example, be hung on a wall or furniture. It is necessary that the plant has the ability to grow down.
Tillandsia asneiform: description
The following species, which we want to tell you about, is the most popular in comparison with other representatives of the genus. That is why we will dwell on its description in more detail. Tillandsia bumblebee has other names, for example, Spanish moss. In fact, this is not moss, because the plant reproduces not by spores, but by seeds. The lightest seeds are carried by the wind in different directions. Getting on fertile soil, they form new sprouts.
This plant is called Spanish moss for its external characteristics and ability to survive in conditions where other cultures die. Over time, the lower stems of the plant die off, and new ones rush up.
Spread
This plant absorbs moisture and nutrients from the air. This fact explains the spread of osseous Tillandsia in areas with high air humidity. The most beautiful specimens of this species are found in Bolivia, at an altitude of 3.5 thousand meters above sea level. Where the weevil-shaped tillandsia grows, the landscape turns into fabulous scenery, and on moonlit nights it becomes mystical.
External features
Spanish moss wraps with its soft, thin twigs a nearby plant — a trunk of a huge tree or bush. The filamentous leaflets about eight centimeters long and about a centimeter wide are arranged in two rows on highly branched, thin stems, which are covered with whitish hairs. Their reflective properties make tillandsia a weevilous gray-silver.
As we have already noted, this plant has no roots; it hangs from trees with huge lace cascades of not too long shoots, clinging to thread-like stalks to the bark of trees. The length of the shoots does not exceed 20 cm, but there are a lot of them, and even when they die, they do not fall. New young shoots cover the old ones and eventually weave and grow so much that they form silver beards, the length of which can exceed three meters.
This gave another name to this species - the old man's beard. With a strong wind, long "beards" cling to neighboring trees located nearby, shoots of tillandsia get stuck in their crown and already there they continue their development. In summer, this plant blooms with yellowish-light green small flowers.
Features of cultivation: placement
Tillandsia is aseviform not needing soil. Therefore, in search of this plant, pay attention in flower shops not to pots, but to decorative compositions on a piece of bark, wood, and stone. So, when grown indoors, these plants can be attached to the base of the socket to pieces of bark, trellises, wooden blocks or to special structures for epiphytes, which can be purchased in stores. For this purpose, larch or cypress wood sawn in rings, beautiful, pre-washed roots and stones are suitable. Please note: it is very important to create comfortable conditions for the unhindered growth of shoots.
For fastening to a support, the following materials can be used:
- nylon threads;
- soft wire;
- waterproof instant glue, which is applied to the area of the stem and glue the plant to the bark or wooden block.
Processed wood coated with varnish or paint is not recommended for the manufacture of the base. The same applies to gypsum fiber and polyurethane foam.
Soon, the plant will gain a foothold and begin to develop the territory. When placing tillandsia on a support, one more thing must be taken into account. Periodically, the plant along with the support must be immersed in water. So, you need to think about this in advance. In order to less injure the flower, fix it on a small bar, which then place on the composite structures in the room.
Some gardeners believe that it is convenient to wrap a socket in sphagnum moss, which will help provide additional moisture, which is so necessary for atmospheric tillandsia. If you do not plan to fix the flower on a support, use stones that must first be washed well, and then just put the plant on top. You just have to wait until it is fixed on the stones and shoots.
An exotic guest can be placed in a beautiful flat vase or candy box, but make sure that moisture does not accumulate in the container. Excessive moisture can destroy the plant.
Many gardeners prefer to grow atmospheric tillandsia in a low flower pot, which is filled with pieces of wood bark and fibrous material. For greater stability, tie the plant to the pot with a soft bandage. After a few weeks, the flower will fix and will hold on to the support itself. In this case, it is convenient to maintain soil moisture.
Temperature
Usnevidnaya tillandsiya does not tolerate too high temperatures. Plants feel much more comfortable at a daytime summer temperature of about +25 ° C, and at night it should not fall below +15 ° C. From November to February, the optimal regime for these plants is in the range of +14 ... + 18 ° C.
Lighting
Atmospheric tillandsia are shade-tolerant and even shade-loving plants, but they also need sunlight. Most suitable for them are places near north-western or eastern windows. In indoor floriculture, they prefer partial shade, and in natural conditions they perfectly tolerate the sun of tropical forests. This should be taken into account in winter and rearrange the composition in the lighter areas.
In winter, atmospheric tillandsia will require additional illumination to increase daylight hours to fourteen hours a day. You can use fluorescent lights for this.
Air humidity
Because epiphytes absorb moisture and feed on air, moisture levels are extremely important to them. It should be at least 75%. Every morning it is necessary to spray the plant with settled warm water. During flowering, try to ensure that water does not fall on the peduncle. It can be covered with a plastic bag during water procedures.
With the onset of the heating season, the air in our apartments becomes much drier. If you do not have an air humidifier, you are unlikely to be able to maintain a constant high level of humidity, practicing only by spraying. Alternatively, consider acquiring a special florarium.
Often, flower growers grow epiphyte in the bathroom, where for this plant you can create comfortable conditions for development. You can use aquariums equipped with artificial lighting, as well as regulators of humidity and temperature. Tillandsia in flower showcases and glass vases look spectacular.
It should be understood that these exotic guests also need fresh air. They must receive it constantly, enjoy its circulation. The rooms in which the tillandsia grows must be regularly ventilated. In the summer, bring flowers to your balcony or porch. Such a walk will be liked by unusual pets. But try not to let the gentle shoots wet the rain or the cold wind frustrate. This culture also does not tolerate ice drafts, however, like any houseplant.
Economic value
In the distant colonial times, the economic importance of Tillandsia is unispecific was reduced to the use of thin stems of this plant for stuffing pillows or mattresses, making upholstered furniture. Now residents of countries where Tillandsia grow under natural conditions, use plants for the manufacture of ritual dolls. Spanish moss is used by birds in the construction of nests.